Who we are
The Business Support Service (formerly the Business Support Helpline) is a FREE, virtual, multi-channel advice and guidance service, operating across England. We form a key element of the UK Government’s business support provision, working on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
We help all businesses, from those thinking about starting a business, through to those who are already established and trading. Our dedicated team of advisers can signpost you to information on national and local schemes, grants and loans to help businesses start and grow.
The Business Support Service is delivered and supported by UMi (weareumi.co.uk), on behalf of the DBT.
How we can help you
By working together with partners, we can become a valuable go-to resource for businesses within their network, giving them additional advice and support to help them start and grow.
For several years, we’ve worked closely and successfully with numerous schemes and programmes including Growth Hubs, Export Support Service, Help to Grow, Companies House, Food Standards Agency and the IPO, as well as universities, colleges and business groups.
As well as advice for businesses, we can help you with:
Additional Support
Businesses needing assistance can be signposted to us for general advice and support.
Signposting
We’ll ensure that we send relevant customers to your service based on any criteria that you provide for us.
Joint Webinars
We can provide business advice to large or small groups digitally both live and on demand.
Brand Awareness
Through our own marketing channels we can boost the visibility of your work and key priorities.
Insights and Trends
Benefit from our data-driven insights based on our customer enquiries to compare with your own experiences.
How we can support your businesses
Our team of SFEDI* qualified and experienced advisers can discuss any aspect of business from starting up to employing people, skills, finance, scaling up and increasing productivity.
All customers receive an initial interaction with one of our Tier 1 advisers who handle a range of questions, issues and business ideas. For those customers with more complex needs, a one-hour appointment with our very experienced Tier 2 advisers can be arranged to offer that more in-depth, bespoke, diagnostic approach helping identify needs and provide solutions.
Our Knowledge Bank, which underpins the service, holds information on 100s of publicly funded or subsidised schemes, programmes, and event and networking groups from across England, in order to signpost businesses to relevant support. The information we hold goes right down to the local authority, so even though we are a national service, we can still support to a local level.
*Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative
Our team of experienced advisers
To reflect the vast range of businesses across England at various stages on their journey, from pre start, start up and established, and across a range of sizes and sectors, our team have demonstrable experience and provide an exceptional service, as evidenced by our customer satisfaction score. They are experts at supporting individuals via a range of channels including phone, webchat, video call, email and social media.
The SFEDI accreditation that our advisers have is a multi-channel business support qualification, completed at Level 5 (Tier 1) and Level 7 (Tier 2).
As a team, we’re passionate about what we do. Every conversation is customer centric and bespoke to their needs.
Our 2023 impact in numbers
24,601
businesses
supported
customer
satisfaction
referrals to
partners
Testimonials
The Business Support Service provides a useful bank of knowledge and advice for businesses whether you’re just setting up or are well established.
Their professional service has worked closely with the Food Standards Agency to ensure they’re directing food business owners to the latest and most relevant advice and guidance, making it easier for businesses to do the right thing.
Throughout the years the Business Support Service (BSS) and the Business Education Service managed by Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) have collaborated together, recognising the synergies between our work.
This has been and continues to be a highly successful partnership and CTSI highly recommends the BSS to partners who have businesses that wish to speak to an adviser for comprehensive advice.
Case Study
Brewing Success with the Business Support Service
An enthusiastic entrepreneur with dreams of starting a remote café reached out to the Business Support Service when feeling lost in the start-up process, unsure how to even register the business.
During a friendly initial chat, we uncovered their main concern: separating personal and business finances. We guided them through the benefits of a limited company, but also explored self-employment, ensuring we explained and simplified the returns and responsibilities of both so they could make a
more informed decision. After identifying their needs, we also shared local/national support services, explained the need to notify the local council to obtain a food licence, and even uncovered a grant opportunity.
Following the call, we understood there had been a lot of information to digest, so we offered a follow-up appointment to check in with their progress – because success starts with support, and we’re here for every step.
What’s next?
Contact us to see how partnering with the Business Support Service can add real and significant value to you and the businesses you work with.